Perak coup - A foretaste of how Malaysia will be with Najib as PM

[pywong]

Looks like the unravelling of UMNO has started. It's going to be a roller-coaster ride. Hang on and enjoy the fun.

26 Jan 09 Umno Man Joins PKR in Perak

By Anwar Ibrahim

From The Star Online
By Jane Ritikos and Clara Chooi

PETALING JAYA: Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim is quitting Umno to join PKR, bringing the total number of state seats held by the Pakatan Rakyat alliance here to 32, versus Barisan Nasional’s 27.

http://anwaribrahimblog.com/2009/01/26/umno-man-joins-pkr-in-perak/
..........

Monday, January 26, 2009
No More Defections To Pakatan : Najib (source NST)

DPM Najib Abdul Razak doesn't think there'll be anymore BN reps switching camps.

http://nursamad.blogspot.com/2009/01/no-more-defections-to-pakatan-najib.html
.........

Don't be too sure, Perak MB tells Najib

Jan 26, 09 7:58pm
Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin today refuted a claim by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that no other BN state representative will be joining the Pakatan Rakyat.

Instead the PAS leader said that three more Barisan Nasional assemblymen were expected to join Pakatan.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/97157

[pywong]

Clock starts ticking for Najib, while Anwar basks in the glow of KT and Bota

Posted by admin
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 09:47

As the moon waxes and wanes, so too have the political fortunes of Deputy Premier Najib Razak and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. But with the latest shock defection of a prized Umno assemblyman to keADILan, a key turning point may have been hit. Attention is now firmly back on Anwar and what next he has to unveil, while Najib faces the music from his own party …

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Wong Choon Mei, Suara keADILan

Whether he chooses to admit it or not, pundits say the political clock has begun ticking for Najib Abdul Razak, even before he takes over as the country’s sixth prime minister in March.

They point at Sunday’s decision by Bota assemblyman, Nasaruddin Hashim, to leave Najib’s Umno for keADILan, the party led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“This is a direct consequence of the Kuala Terengganu by-election defeat at the hands of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition,” said a veteran political watcher.

“KT is a core Malay heartland and the loss is starting to create the sort of reverberations in Umno that some members have been expecting, but were afraid to say out loud. There can be only two outcomes for Umno and Najib now. His ouster and the party’s re-birth, or his survival and the party’s demise.”

https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17280/84/

[besitai2007]

Looks like UMNO and PR still haven't come to terms in Perak. Tit-for-tat party hopping. Has become a big joke and the people suffers in the end. Recession is around the corner and no one is concerned about that but paint a beautiful picture for this country. Should redo the GE for the whole country to settle issue as to who is to govern the country and implement the no-hopping law...and stop the stupid jerks from being big-time froggies.. whether PR or BN. >:(

[pywong]

Besitai,

PAS is saying the same thing here:
https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17467/84/

Maybe dissolve State Govts in Perak and Selangor as well to clear off some of the dead wood in PR.

We have a better idea now who are competent and who is not.

[GoldChan]

I remember reading Lee Kuan Yew memoir.
He propose to Tunku Abdul Rahman, if an elected member quits his party, then the seat should be vacant and a fresh election shall be done.
But nobody from BN supported Mr Lee idea during that time.
Now, this issue come and haunt us again for it was long foretold by Harry Lee.




Besitai,

PAS is saying the same thing here:
https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17467/84/

Maybe dissolve State Govts in Perak and Selangor as well to clear off some of the dead wood in PR.

We have a better idea now who are competent and who is not.

[besitai2007]

Well, more frogs in Negri Sembilan are going to jump ship? Rumours flying around like crazy. I do not support froggies. It's better to redo the whole GE and settle the issue of who's actually going to administer the country.

[pywong]

02/02/09: Some updated reports here. Let us hope that PKR will be more careful in the choice of their candidates. Choosing the two previous ADUNs was really scraping the bottom of the barrel. No wonder PKR could not produce anyone to take up the MB post. In any case, I am glad Nizar was selected as the MB. He has done a good job so far. It is also good coalition politics to let the smallest party provide the MB. Their loyalty is assured this way.

1. Perak Speaker Informs EC Behrang, Changkat Jering Seats Vacant
https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17495/84/

2. Perak current state of play piles pressure on errant duo

Posted by admin
Monday, 02 February 2009 15:11

• Perak Pakatan Rakyat to have emergency meeting at 3pm
• MB Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin met Perak Sultan at 10am
• State speaker V. Sivakumar sent resignation letters for two seats to Election Commision
• Behrang, Changkat Jering assembymen deny resigning, to meet press in KL at 4pm
• DAP Jelapang rep still in Pakatan Rakyat

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider
https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17501/84/

3. Hard for PKR duo to contest resignations
2 Feb 09 : 3.28PM

By Deborah Loh
deborahloh@thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 2 Feb 2009: It will be hard for the two former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) assemblypersons in Perak to challenge their own pre-signed, undated resignation letters, a constitutional lawyer said today.

Jamaluddin Mat Radzi, the assemblyperson for Behrang, and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, the assemblyperson for Changkat Jering, can deny having sent the letters all they want, but the law's view is that they have given prior consent to the terms contained in the letter, senior lawyer Tommy Thomas told The Nut Graph.
http://thenutgraph.com/hard-to-contest-resignations

[besitai2007]

ADUNs are now magicians who can disappear without a trace or learn to be froggies.

If the two froggies hot in the news challenge the validity of their resignation letters in court, will the presiding judge rule in their favour.. even though many lawyers are of the opinion that they will not win the case? The main contention is that they were not forced to sign the letters (like having a gun pointed at their heads or being threatened with bodily harm). They could have refused to sign. As pywong has said, PKR was scraping the bottom of the barrel when they accepted these two froggies..even Saiful got past the selection process. In Bolehland anything is possible especially if the presiding judge is on the side side of You-Know-Who.

How about DAP's Hee Yit Fong? Doesn't she realise that the people voted her in? Once appointed an ADUN all these people start to posture and behave as if they were appointed by divine right. Being made a Deputy Speaker is not enough..she wants more? Petty quarrels with Ngeh and Ngah cousins become reasons to be a froggie (although she denied this)? How about the other fella (don't want to mention his name or else will taint this forum) who has threatened to leap frog before. All start putting on disappearing acts..sheesh!

[Bob K]

Honestly speaking, which of you did not see this coming? Such a drama was already in the cards the moment Pakatan Rakyat took over the State Assembly with its razor thin majority. The precedents of Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kelantan and Terengganu over the last 5 decades all come into mind. Surely this was just a matter of time.

Now, if folks like us could see that, I'm sure folks like Dato' Seri Nizar and his cabinet would've seen that coming too. At the very least, DSAI would've expected it. What we're seeing now is just a series of contingency plans being put into action and UMNO reacting to it with the full force of the mass media. Disarray and panic? I very much doubt so.

[pywong]

Strange as it may sound, PR is holding the threat of state elections over the head of Najib. In the midst of an UMNO elections with all the candidates scrambling for posts, a fight with PR in a state election is the last thing he needs.

It will be cast as a referendum on whether the people wants him to be PM and the result is a foregone conclusion. Furthermore, if PR wins again with a bigger majority, that will be the last straw before the trigger for a mass exodus (or a mad scramble by the BN MPs) to PR from the East.

So, the courts will rule the resignation letters valid.

Standby for by-elections in Changkat Jering and Behrang. (BTW, these Malay language scholars have mud in their heads. They change "changkul" to "cangkul" and keep names like "Changkat" as "Changkat". Why can't they be consistent and call it "Cangkat"? Or for that matter, adopt Bahasa Indonesian and fininh with it.

[Bob K]

Changkat Jering is a proper noun / nama khas. Under DBP rules, old spelling can be retained for proper nouns. We find similar grammatical rules in English as well :)

[pywong]

If the KT by-election is any indicator, Perak can expect an influx of at least RM 10 billion in a state-wide election, if Nizar decides to dissolve the state assembly. After that, we should have one for Selangor. Better still if it is simultaneous. Then we get Parliament to pass a law enforcing the indelible ink prodecure during voting.

At this rate, our economy is going to grow by 7%. Don't worry about the financial crisis. ;D This is the Bolehland version of pump-priming. Soon we can export our expertise to the US and save them. Badawi and Najib can be World Bank Consultants to advise the failing Developed Nations.

No by-elections

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 — The Election Commission declared today that there will be no by-elections for the Behrang and Changkat Jering state seats as the two assemblymen had written to the body to declare their resignations are not valid.

More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/17479-no-by-elections)


Kit Siang says decision not up to EC

By Shannon Teoh

IPOH, Feb 3 — The DAP has refuted the Election Commission's claim that it is not up to the Perak speaker to declare state assembly seats vacant.

In refusing to declare by-elections for the Behrang and Changkat Jering seats, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof had stated that it is up to the EC to decide if a seat is vacant or not.

'The EC has exceeded its jurisdiction and has no business to disregard the Perak constitution,' said DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

More… (http://m.themalaysianinsider.com/articles.php?id=17481)

[pywong]

No two ways about it: DISSOLVE the Perak State Assembly

Posted by admin
Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Tuesday, 03 February 2009

If fresh state elections are held, Pakatan Rakyat may sweep at least 40 seats, leaving Umno with just 19 seats. MCA, MIC, Gerakan and PPP will not win a single seat.

More… (https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17542/84/)

[pywong]

What is clear is that we are dealing with a fascist government that does not respect democracy except when it is in their favour. If we don't learn from history, we will be condemned to relive it.

The people will not be denied!

A rewind of past constitutional crises?

Posted by admin
Tuesday, 03 February 2009 13:53

While Perak looks set to head towards a possible constitutional crisis with the disputed status of its Changkat Jering and Behrang assemblymen, the brewing impasse is certainly not the first of its kind in the country.

by Sharon Tan, The Edge

Sarawak in 1966

Kelantan in 1978

Sabah 1984 & 1994

Semangat 46 in 1992

[pywong]

Defections unethical, says Khairy

Posted by admin
Tuesday, 03 February 2009 09:17

Umno Youth deputy chief “troubled by party hopping”

"I would be extremely disappointed if they jumped over and the charges were dropped against them. To me, that would not only be unethical because of the party-hopping bit. That would be extremely unethical because you're basically saying if you want to get out of [a] charge for a crime, then join Umno."

By Jacqueline Ann Surin and Shanon Shah, The Nut Graph
Umno Youth chief aspirant Khairy Jamaluddin said he is opposed to party-hopping because it is unethical, but he will not support anti-hopping legislation.

"I personally have written and spoken about party-hopping being unethical, and I would hold that line.

http://thenutgraph.com/defections-unethical-says-khairy

[pywong]

PKR man claims he was offered RM50 million to entice defections

Posted by admin
Tuesday, 03 February 2009 10:08

P. Chandra Sagaran, Emedia News

A Parti Keadilan Rakyat division leader alleged that he was offered RM50 million by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to entice defections to the Barisan Nasional after the March 8 general election. (SURAT AKUAN FAUZI MUDA)

Ipoh Barat PKR division chief Fauzi Muda spoke to reporters at the PKR Perak office here after he made a statutory declaration on the alleged meeting with Najib today.

More… (https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17534/84/)

More from RPK here:
https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17494/84/

and

'Yes, I took Fauzi to Najib's house but...'
Rahmah Ghazali | Feb 3, 09 2:19pm

The startling accusation by a Perak PKR leader that he was offered RM50 million to engineer defections has forced a former deputy minister to come out and clear the air.

More… (http://malaysiakini.com/news/97484)

[pywong]

Perak won’t consider errant duo as state reps

By Shannon Teoh

IPOH, Feb 3 - Both Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Osman Jailu will not be admitted as assemblymen in the Perak state assembly although the Election Commission has ruled out by-elections for their Behrang and Changkat Jering seats, senior state executive councillor Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said tonight.

More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/17520-perak-wont-consider-errant-duo-as-state-reps)

Perak gives 48 hour ultimatum for EC to reverse decision

By Shannon Teoh

IPOH, Feb 3 — Perak plunged deeper into crisis today when the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government declared today that it would give the federal Election Commission (EC) 48 hours to review its decision not to hold the Behrang and Changkat Jering by-elections.

Senior executive councillor Ngeh Koo Ham told reporters today that if the EC does not change its mind, the Perak government would take necessary action.

More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/17494-perak-gives-48-hour-ultimatum-for-ec-to-reverse-decision)

[Bob K]

Personally, I'm hoping to see a snap election called in Perak.

[pywong]

Jamaluddin quits PKR to be independent

By Shannon Teoh

IPOH, Feb 3 — Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi has resigned from PKR in a huff over Pakatan Rakyat’s move to declare his seat vacant, saying he will remain an independent in the 59-seat Perak state assembly.

More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/17512-jamaluddin-quits-pkr-to-be-independent)

[pywong]

I wish they will just take care of their own house instead of poking their noses in areas where they don't belong.

How about the horrible crime situation?

The A. Kugan case?

Plus the thousands of pending cases?

Now they suddenly want to investigate the unsigned letters by the "disappeared" PKR assemblymen.

Mind you, the police report was made in Shah Alam and we are talking about a case in Perak.

Try making a report to the police in Subang Jaya about an accident in PJ and see the runaround you get. How come the police is suddenly so efficient as to be able to transfer a police report from Shah Alam to Ipoh almost instantly?

Perak cops to probe PKR ‘resignations’

By Adib Zalkapli

IPOH, Feb 3 — Perak police today confirmed that it had received reports on the purported resignation of two PKR state assemblymen who are at the centre of the state’s political uncertainties.

The state police chief, Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said in a one paragraph statement the reports were lodged yesterday morning.

“The police have commenced investigation and will record statements from those involved and able to assist police investigation,” said Zulkifli.

More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/17504-perak-cops-to-probe-pkr-resignations)

[pywong]

If I understand the gobbledegook correctly, what he means is:

1. If someone signs an undated resignation letter, that letter is valid.
2. If the State Assembly passes an anti-hopping law to prevent cross-overs, that law is not valid as it is ultra-vires the freedom of association act.

Now that brings up an interesting point: Why are the candlelight vigilers not allowed to assemble in the MPSJ area without police harassment?

By-election not required if crossovers occur
3 Feb 09 : 6.22PM

By Tommy Thomas
editor@thenutgraph.com

I WOULD like to elaborate on the comments I made during the course of my telephone conversations with The Nut Graph senior journalist Deborah Loh which was posted in Hard for PKR duo to contest resignations on 2 Feb 2009.

More… (http://thenutgraph.com/byelection-not-required-if-crossovers-occur)

[besitai2007]

Pywong, UMNO will deny all those allegations. UMNO has all the trump cards and aces (plus some extra cards which are not even in the deck!) to beat you when you have a full house in your hands. Look, when Bala made his first SD, UMNO had its methods of silencing him (threats of bodily harm? Money?). You can't prove anything, even in court as it has the judiciary on their side. You want to have a by-election? The EC is on their side. Want to have a state re-election? There will be things to frustrate you. Want to have a peaceful candle light virgil, their police cohorts will use force on you. When they demonstrate it's ok..permits are easily given. Their mean machine is always up and running. Look at those two PKR ADUNs. PKR friends of mine said that they were virtually kidnapped and given an ultimatum..jump ship or else face the full penalty of the court on the charges of corruption planted against them. Jamaluddin has become an independent (even RM1 million is a nice sum to tide over a rainy day) and will most likely jump ship. The court ruling in Kelantan years ago (by none other than Eusoff Chin) made it illegal to coerce via presigned letters. We know that the opinions of legal minds in various forums say that it is legal..like signing a blank cheque and handing it to someone. You cannot get annoyed if the person uses the cheque to withdraw a larger sum of money that you have anticipated. It looks like all these things are carefully planned by a team of people in UMNO who have come up with brilliant counter moves to thwart the PR's every strategy.

Sigh. My eldest daughter is planning to leave the country. My second daughter is already in US. Young people are getting disenchanted with the country. As for me I am still loyal to the country of my birth and will strive to right the wrongs done to us..via the ballot box .. before it becomes irrelevant.

[besitai2007]

Terminal 3 upgrading, election fraud....the list is endless. Pywong, UMNO will deny all those allegations. UMNO has all the trump cards and aces (plus some extra cards which are not even in the deck!) to beat you when you have a full house in your hands. Look, when Bala made his first SD, UMNO had its methods of silencing him (threats of bodily harm? Money?). You can't prove anything, even in court as it has the judiciary on their side. You want to have a by-election? The EC is on their side. Want to have a state re-election? There will be things to frustrate you. Want to have a peaceful candle light vigil, their police cohorts will use force on you. When they demonstrate it's ok..permits are easily given. Their mean machine is always up and running. Look at those two PKR ADUNs. PKR friends of mine said that they were virtually kidnapped and given an ultimatum..jump ship or else face the full penalty of the court on the charges of corruption planted against them. Jamaluddin has become an independent (even RM1 million is a nice sum to tide over a rainy day) and will most likely jump ship. The court ruling in Kelantan years ago (by none other than Eusoff Chin) made it illegal to coerce via presigned letters. We know that the opinions of legal minds in various forums say that it is legal..like signing a blank cheque and handing it to someone. You cannot get angry if the person uses the cheque to withdraw a larger sum of money that you have anticipated. It looks like all these things are carefully planned by a team of people in UMNO who have come up with brilliant counter moves and game plans to thwart the PR's every strategy.

Sigh. My eldest daughter is planning to leave the country. My second daughter is already in US. Young people are getting disenchanted with the country. As for me I am still loyal to the country of my birth and will strive to right the wrongs done to us..via the ballot box .. before it becomes irrelevant.

[pywong]

Sigh. My eldest daughter is planning to leave the country. My second daughter is already in US. Young people are getting disenchanted with the country. As for me I am still loyal to the country of my birth and will strive to right the wrongs done to us..via the ballot box .. before it becomes irrelevant.

Besitai, I am coming round to posting The Rat Race Part VI which will try to identify the methods used by UMNO. By now, I think I have enough information to construct the picture. In any case, it can be covered by one word "Psychological warfare".

BTW, don't get angry, get even. Voting in the ballot box alone is not enough. We need to do more, much, much more, for the sakes of your daughters and our children. Care to join me?

Your second daughter mentioned that housing in California dropped a bit last year. How is it now? I think she will have seen the full force of the unwinding of the housing prices by now. How many % has it dropped? Probably it has to drop by 50% from the peak before it becomes affordable. Capital cost has to match rental returns. Otherwise, it has no meaning.

With the coming global depression, leaving the country may not be that great an idea. Whichever Western country she goes to, she will be inheriting the debt of that country through the taxation system. Just like the Rat jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Better to stick on and try to change the Malaysian Rat Race System.

[pywong]

What does the Perak State Constitution say? And what ought the EC to have done?

The EC should have referred the matter to court rather than making a decision not to call for a by-election.
By doing so, it has displayed a bias against the Perak State Govt.

Read the comments in his post also for other viewpoints.

More… (http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/what-does-the-perak-state-constitution-say-and-what-ought-the-ec-to-have-done/)

[pywong]

Key points: The EC has acted unconstitutionally. I wonder whether there are procedures to impeach the EC Chairman for abuse of power?
In the interests of state stability, the MB should dissolve the assembly and call for state wide elections for a fresh mandate.

Making sense of the Perak controversy
By Malik Imtiaz Sarwar

FEB 4 — Before embarking on an analysis of the state of play in Perak, it would be of value to consider the objective facts:

* Two assemblymen signed undated resignation letters as a condition to their being nominated by their political party for a state election. For this, the party also gave them full support, financial and otherwise. They won their respective seats;

* The undated resignation letters were submitted to the speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The Perak Constitution allows members of the assembly the option of resigning their membership “by writing under his hand addressed to the speaker”;

* The party opted to submit the resignations of the two assemblymen. It is not apparent what prompted this;

* The speaker has accepted the resignations and communicated the fact of the resignations to the Election Commission. The speaker has taken the position and ruled for the purposes of the assembly that the resignations have taken effect and by-elections be held. He will treat the assemblymen as no longer being members of the assembly for the purposes of proceedings in the assembly;

* The two assemblymen dispute the validity of the resignation. They do not contend that the resignations letters were not under their hand. They contend that the resignations were procured through duress;

* The Election Commission has decided that the resignations are doubtful and as such not true resignations.

From the above, it could be said that the following questions arose when the controversy first erupted:

* The legal value or validity of the resignations. There is no authoritative decision of the courts on this point. A 1982 decision of the then Federal Court (Datuk Ong Kee Hui) observed that such resignations could be viewed as being contrary to public policy in view of elections at both the state and federal level being of individuals as opposed to political parties. A question of honouring the wishes of the electorate, that is the electing of the individual as opposed to the party, arises. The Federal Court did not decide on the point as the Member of Parliament concerned did not seek to invalidate the resignation nor had the speaker been joined as a party. The point is as such open to argument.

* Whether the resignation letters were procured under duress;

However, these questions have been overtaken by events, in particular the decision of the speaker to accept the resignations and give effect to them. The speaker may be wrong but until he is shown to be wrong through valid process — either in the assembly (to the extent that such process is available) or through the courts — the speaker’s decision must stand.

In this regard, the Election Commission is charged with the conduct of elections. It could be argued that in order to do so, the Election Commission must have the power to determine whether an election is needed in the first place. Where state and federal elections are concerned, this is established by the dissolution of the assemblies and Parliament respectively. However, where casual vacancies (through death, resignations or disqualifications) arise, the situation is more nuanced.

The Perak Constitution (Article 36(5)) provides that a casual vacancy shall be filled within 60 days from the date on which it is established by the Election Commission that there is a vacancy. Vacancies caused by death and disqualifications are easily established. Where the latter is concerned, the matter is decided by the assembly itself, which in law is taken to have final say (save where there is a matter of legal interpretation). In the ordinary course resignations are similarly uncomplicated; the speaker receives the letter of resignation and communicates the fact to the Election Commission which establishes the vacancy based on the speaker’s declaration. From this, it is apparent that the vacancy is established by reference to the position taken by the speaker. This is consistent with the basic principle of parliamentary democracy that it is the speaker who regulates the assembly.

The question that arises is therefore whether this process is derailed by a dispute as to the validity of the resignation. In my view, it should not be, and the Election Commission must act accordingly. I say this for two main reasons. First, the scheme explained above.

Secondly, it is not for the Election Commission to embark on a fact-finding or adjudicative process as, amongst other things, it does not have the power to do so. In denying the position the speaker has taken, the Election Commission is in effect asserting that that the speaker is wrong. The Election Commission cannot do so. If there is a question as to the correctness of the speaker’s position, then it must be challenged through proper channels.

Seen from this perspective, this unprecedented and very curious action of the Election Commission regrettably raises questions as to its motives. It must be taken to appreciate the precarious position it has left Perak in, one which looked upon objectively appears to have been made more accommodating to the machinations of the Barisan Nasional. I note that by-elections would be inconvenient for Umno which is scheduled to have its assembly in March. It is as such open to question as to whether the Election Commission has conducted itself in the independent manner the Federal Constitution requires of it.

Where this leaves the Perak government is an open question. It could seek a ruling of the court as to the correctness of the decision made by the Election Commission and an order to compel the latter to conduct the by-election. This would be a time-consuming affair and occasion a delay that can only work against the interests of the state. The razor-thin margin is undermining stability and it is more probable than not the attention of those who make up the state government would be focused more on preserving their government than the affairs of the state.

The Election Commission’s stance and the underlying events would afford sufficient cause for the menteri besar to request that the Sultan dissolve the assembly and call for fresh elections. All things considered, this may be the best way to protect the interests of Perak. In these difficult times, governments should be focused on what needs to be done rather than politics.

Malik Imtiaz Sarwar is the current president of the National Human Rights Society (HAKAM) and a lawyer.

More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/malik-imtiaz-sarwar/17549-making-sense-of-the-perak-controversy)

[pywong]

International Islamic University law professor, Abdul Aziz described the EC's decision not to hold by-elections as "illogical", particularly after the chairman publicly acknowledged the power of the speaker, "which means he has accepted that the speaker has the final say, but is choosing not to do it".

"They have set a dangerous and inappropriate precedent," he said, sounding disturbed.

Go to the courts to settle the issue.

More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/17547-constitutional-conundrum-has-only-just-begun)

[pywong]

Interesting character, this Ezam. Looks like he has made it his life vocation to be a pest.

Here's a thought. The UMNO ADUNs who are thinking of jumping has only 24 hours to do so. If PR puts in the request for assembly dissolution, it will too late for them. Then they will have to face PR in the polls. I wouldn't like to be in their shoes facing an angry rakyat. Chances are 1/3 of the UMNO guys will be kicked out.

More… (http://www.malaysiawaves.com/2009/02/ezams-role-in-perak-debacle.html)

[pywong]

Press statement On “The Perak Mess”

Posted by admin
Wednesday, 04 February 2009 10:01

The Centre for Policy Initiatives lauds the statement by Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, that the Sultan will be “neutral, nonpartisan and free of having personal interest to ensure justice for the people”.

Amidst uncertainty surrounding the resignations of Perak state assemblymen for Behrang and Changkat Jering – Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu respectively – Raja Nazrin’s assurance that his father the Sultan of Perak has always upheld the principles of justice based on the sovereignty of the law and emphasising solidarity, cooperation, consensus and consultation, is indeed timely.

It is hoped that the national leadership will pay heed and take a leaf from the ruler’s book by similarly putting the interests of the rakyat first and foremost over political self-interest. The interests of the rakyat are best served when the pivotal and watchdog institutions of state work with scrupulous integrity and are autonomous. To borrow from Raja Nazrin’s wise words, this independence “helps in enhancing the effectiveness of the check and balance mechanism”.

More… (https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17568/84/)

[pywong]

#
Perak assembly to be dissolved today?
Feb 4, 09 12:12pm
# BREAKING NEWS! updated 12.35pm Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin is expected to have an audience with the sultan within the next hour. It is learnt that he is seeking the dissolution of the state assembly.

It is also learnt that three Pakatan Rakyat state assemblypersons - Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang), Osman Jailu (PKR-Changkat Jering) and deputy assembly speaker Hee Yit Foong (DAP-Jelapang) - have submitted official letters to speaker V Sivakumar this morning to express their intention to become independent representatives.

More… (http://malaysiakini.com/news/97547)

[sampalee]

It is the will of GOD that the state assembly be dissolved and fresh election follows.Umno deceit in taking control has backfired and the entire country will do battle and exterminate them in Perak.Umno will then fall apart on its own.Allah response to the Had-hari will be quick and swift.

[pywong]

PKR's new rep now goes missing
Feb 4, 09 3:22pm

The fate of Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak worsened this afternoon when Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin told reporters that a recent defector from Umno has gone missing.

More… (http://www1.malaysiakini.com/news/97573)

Perak gov't on the brink of collapse
Feb 4, 09 12:12pm

LIVE REPORTS

5.05pm: Mohd Nizar is still at Istana Kinta.

4.28pm: Bota representative Nasarudin Hashim is also learnt to be at the DPM's office, waiting to be introduced to the media by Najib.

With Nasarudin's re-defection, BN and its independent allies now have 31 seats against Pakatan Rakyat's 28.

More… (http://www1.malaysiakini.com/news/97547)

[jules]

we were let down badly, huh ??
the only consolations are that we weren't let down by any of the opposition parties.
we just have to bounce back stronger than before.
i felt bad for those new villages that had been promised the land titles, for they are the ones that been short-changed personally and financially.
so close, yet so far away....
a sad day for Malaysia, especially for those Perakians.
hopefully the ghost of Altantuya's will guide us in bringing down this perfidious government.

[jules]

how will the BN ever get any single vote from those new villagers from today onward ? ;D ;D ;D

[pywong]

How to bring a government down

Posted by admin
Wednesday, 04 February 2009 19:04

The Perak Menteri Besar has just had his audience with His Highness the Sultan of Perak to request Tuanku’s consent to dissolve the Perak State Assembly. It seems the Sultan wants to ‘think about it’ first and will probably make his decision after seeing Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak tomorrow. Maybe, while Tuanku is at it, he can also think about the following.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Westminster system

The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the British government (the Parliament of the United Kingdom). The term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the UK Parliament.

The system is a series of procedures for operating a legislature. It is used, or was once used, in the national legislatures and sub-national legislatures of most Commonwealth and ex-Commonwealth nations, beginning with the Canadian provinces and Australian colonies in the mid-19th century. There are other parliamentary systems whose procedures differ considerably from the Westminster system.

Key characteristics

Important features of the Westminster system include the following, although not all of the following aspects have been preserved in every Westminster-derived system:

* a sovereign or head of state who is the nominal or theoretical holder of executive power, and holds numerous reserve powers, but whose daily duties mainly consist of performing the role of a ceremonial figurehead. Examples include the British monarch, the presidents of many countries and state/provincial governors in federal systems.

* a head of government (or head of the executive), known as the prime minister (PM), premier or first minister, who is officially appointed by the head of state. In practice, the head of government is almost always the leader of the largest elected party in parliament.

* a de facto executive branch usually made up of members of the legislature with the senior members of the executive in a cabinet led by the head of government; such members execute executive authority on behalf of the nominal or theoretical executive authority.

* parliamentary opposition (a multi-party system).

* an elected legislature, often bicameral, in which at least one house is elected, although unicameral systems also exist; legislative members are usually elected by district in first-past-the-post elections (as opposed to country-wide proportional representation).(In this case, New Zealand presents an interesting change given its shift to proportional representation.)

* a lower house of parliament with an ability to dismiss a government by "withholding (or blocking) Supply" (rejecting a budget), passing a motion of no confidence, or defeating a confidence motion. The Westminster system enables a government to be defeated, or forced into a general election, independently of a new government being chosen.

* a parliament which can be dissolved and elections called at any time.

* parliamentary privilege, which allows the Legislature to discuss any issue deemed by itself to be relevant, without fear of consequences stemming from defamatory statements or records thereof.

* minutes of meetings, often known as Hansard, including an ability for the legislature to strike discussion from these minutes.

Most of the procedures of the Westminster system have originated with the conventions, practices and precedents of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which are a part of what is known as the Constitution of the United Kingdom. Unlike the unwritten British constitution, most countries that use the Westminster system have codified the system in a written constitution.

However, uncodified conventions, practices and precedents continue to play a significant role in most countries, as many constitutions do not specify important elements of procedure: for example, some older constitutions using the Westminster system do not mention the existence of the cabinet and/or the prime minister, because these offices were taken for granted by the authors of these constitutions.

A motion of no confidence (alternatively vote of no confidence, censure motion, no-confidence motion, or confidence motion) is a parliamentary motion traditionally put before a parliament by the opposition in the hope of defeating or weakening a government, or, rarely by an erstwhile supporter who has lost confidence in the government. The motion is passed or rejected by means of a new parliamentary vote (a vote of no confidence).

Typically, when parliament votes no confidence, or where it fails to vote confidence, a government must respond in one of two ways:

* resign

* seek a parliamentary dissolution and request a general election

https://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17609/84/

[besitai2007]

The comments by RPK is applicable only to true democracies. In our disguised form of democracy..anything that can be used to ensure the continuance of a sick crooked government is considered legitimate..using police, EC, judiciary, money enticements, or entrapment are considerd ok so long as it stays in power. We can philosophise for all they care..they still are in power. Even ballot boxes can be tainted with ghost voters and postal votes. 50 years has taught UMNO a lot of dirty tricks.

[sampalee]

This goes to show that apeing the western model of democracy need not be the system for us.May be we should just have a good decent Agong and do away with the rest.

[besitai2007]

There is no more use in voting for ADUNs as anytime a state government can be brought down by party hopping. UMNO has beaten Anwar in his game. His supporters today are in mourning at the loss of Perak state. Next to fall Kedah?

[pywong]

My thoughts exactly, especially the last paragraph. No, I am not batsman. ;D

In For the Long Haul

Posted by admin
Thursday, 05 February 2009 15:17

It is no use cursing and swearing. Better to turn your indignation into a steely determination to labour for and if necessary make sacrifices towards the return of decency in society and life in Malaysia. Obviously there is a large gap between words and deeds among all levels of society in Malaysia.

There is no need to make this gap larger by cursing and swearing. Find more constructive ways. Cursing and swearing and then getting demoralized is not a constructive way. It doesn’t close the gap between words and deeds.

There is a silver lining in every cloud. In this case, the struggle is simplified by the self-removal of a few opportunists. Hopefully as the struggle gets more intense, more opportunists will be exposed and removed such that in the end, only the best and the most honourable will take their place as our true leaders. So it is not a good idea to relax on the struggle. On the contrary it is better to make it even more intense so that more hidden opportunists will be exposed.

PR is young and lacks manpower as well as resources. The suddenness of its victory means that opportunists find it easy to creep into its ranks. The struggle over the long haul will expose these get-rich-quick opportunists. It also makes the PR stronger by far and more trustworthy.

This episode also begs a few questions. It obvious that some pro-BN assemblymen have been richly rewarded while others still wait have to for their turn. How long will their patience last? Some loyal elected representatives of BN must wonder why they have not been richly rewarded while others who managed to grab the limelight get theirs. Isn’t it about time to grab some limelight for themselves as well?

There must be hundreds of loyal UMNO assemblymen and even MPs who wait eagerly to be rewarded for their loyalty. Will they accept the good fortune of the few “independents” who have benefited or will they find creative ways of rewarding themselves? Similarly, lots of BN assemblymen and even MPs must be asking themselves this same question. Should they reward themselves or should they wait for BN to reward them? Since money politics is the order of the day and since even UMNO has trouble controlling it within its own ranks, such questions will be unavoidable.

Anyway, why should only the elected representatives of BN in Perak get RM300,000 each and not the elected BN representatives for the rest of the country? Don’t they need to service their constituents as well? Who knows how much the “independents” are getting? Does being independent command more currency than loyal BN representatives?

The stage has been set, the example made, the model created. And it is not a good one. Dirty money politics is the order of the day. Will the rakyat meekly accept this or will they find logical as well as creative ways of punishing those who play this dirty game? Will the creativity and determination of the rakyat be more bountiful than the creativity and cunning of opportunistic elected politicians?

Don’t wait for heroes. Be the hero you wait for. This is the only way to ensure your hero meets your own specifications of integrity and honesty. Organise yourselves. Join NGOs or opposition parties. Encourage your friends, relatives and children to do likewise and support them through thick and thin. Do something concrete, disciplined and systematic to express your indignation. Don’t just curse and swear.

By batsman

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17673/84/

[Isa Rahim]

Well, I've actually formally joined Keadilan now. Many of my relatives have been in UMNO for generations, they are leaving...

[Isa Rahim]

UMNO has beaten Anwar in his game. His supporters today are in mourning at the loss of Perak state.
I wouldn't be so sure of that. On the surface and UMNO media, of course it's a victory. But I'd say it's equally a victory for PR, because the refused to play dirty; and during their 11 months in power they did a number of acts which was taken very well by the people.

I would estimate that approx 70-80% of the Perak people are also mourning at the loss of Perak state.

[Isa Rahim]

Well as we now know, it was a planned double hop.

[Isa Rahim]

The Perak coup is nothing else than a foretaste of how Malaysia will be with Najib as PM

- constitution breached
- assemblymen and MPs blackmailed, then hijacked
- assemblymen and MPs purchased
- the palace(s) playing along
- police and FRU used outside of the law and following the orders of the party
- the media used to fudge

[jules]

you are right mate, najib will be our first banana president.

[besitai2007]

There will also be a change in the role of the monarchy. The Sultans and Agung can now have a say who they want to run the state government or the country. Going back to absolute monarchy..where the monarchy favours BN.

[besitai2007]

It was a brilliant chess move. Sacrifice a pawn and checkmate the opposition.

[jules]

Yesterday was a black day for monarchy too and IMHO they won't be able to atone for that slight on the rakyat.They will be brushed aside by the government and rakyat alike in the coming days.So much for those talk about blah blah blah but couldn't walk the walk.Just imagine if the other decision was made, how high the monarchy popularity will be ?

[jules]

this victory of umno is so hollowed that it sounded like a drum. umno won the battle but is losing the war.
its an awakening of sorts for a lot of rakyat of just how low could umno stoop down to.

[pywong]

Well, I've actually formally joined Keadilan now. Many of my relatives have been in UMNO for generations, they are leaving...


Congratulations Isa Rahim. You have taken the first step to be the hero you want to be. Welcome on board.

[H.S. Seah]

I have been an admirer of Tuanku Sultan Azlan Shan until yesterday. However, the people will win, comes any elections. Umno have made a precedent that I hope one day if they are on the receiving end what will they say ?. That I do not have to speculate, but to the frogs that jump, I wish them the best as a leopard will not change its spots. To have monetary gain and be scorned by the public is worse than a criminal. To those abetting it is even a greater scorn which cannot be washed away. What a waste and imagine by next month we are going to have a PM who is directly involved in this mess. May God Bless Malaysia.

[Isa Rahim]

I was also an admirer of Tuanku Sultan Azlan Shan.

The very moment he had a chance to put in practice what he had professed for so many years, and in so many speaches and so many articles, he failed, and did exactly the opposite; leaving a the whole establishment of legal and constitutional experts dumbfounded, mouths agape, and - most importantly - sad and sorrow to the bones.

[Isa Rahim]

Haha, I have no desire to he a 'hero'... i just love the country.

[pywong]

I presume those of you who are so enamoured with the Royalty are less than age 40, so you don't know what Mahathir did with them. I am not referring to the Constitutional crisis where he chopped the Royalty down to size. After the Constitutional Crisis, he started courting the Royalty again. He was so good that he literary had them eating out off his hands. You really have to hand it to him.

This Perak debacle is good. Now we know the true colours of these people. Having said that, I have the highest respect and regard for our Agong. I believe he is of a younger generation and class. That is where our hope lies.

This reminds me of a story I heard about 15 years back.

A prince was newly installed as the Head of State. Before that he was widely respected in civil society holding a very high social position. He quickly displayed his true qualities, grabbing as much business opportunities and land as he could. His rationale: I have waited until my hair is white already. I don't know how much time I have left.

Just to avoid any misunderstanding, this state is not necessarily in Malaysia. ;D

Moral of story:

Judge not on a person's words.

Judge based on the actions

[pywong]

i just love the country.

All of us do. :)

[usjT]

There will also be a change in the role of the monarchy. The Sultans and Agung can now have a say who they want to run the state government or the country. Going back to absolute monarchy..where the monarchy favours BN.
Seems to agree. It appears and looks like the monarchy has a new role to play going forward into the 21st century of Malaysian politics!
Wondering, "How could it have happened without the encouragement of some unseen hand?"

This begs an answer to the hypothetical question:
By the same token of how the state government can change hands, could the Federal Gov follow the same pattern, where a few MPs declare they are independant, and then the opposition declare they are in majority after counting in the independants, and having the new leader sworn-in as PM by the Agung?

If this is a precedent, then could that be the best bet on how the PR could rule the country? (just for discussion only). Remember that AAB had refused to convene a Parliamentary session on the motion of no-confidence raised by the opposition leader's request. So, in the event of an impasse and an absense of a legal process, could this be a model of how the Fed G could change hands?

[pywong]

What more to say?

Posted by admin
Saturday, 07 February 2009 15:32

If I were in Umno I would do exactly the same. I would use the immense wealth that Umno posses to buy over the prostitutes in Pakatan Rakyat. Anyway, is that not what we want Anwar Ibrahim to do? We want Anwar to form a new federal government by enticing at least 30 Parliamentarians from Barisan Nasional to cross over to the opposition.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Many ask why I have been very silent the last 48 hours. Well, that is because I sudah menyampah. Why scream now? If we want to scream make sure we do it before the ship sinks. Once we are in the water we should save our breath for breathing -- if we can keep our heads above water, that is. If not, then quietly drown and die with some dignity. At least you will be remembered for someone who died in style.......

About a week ago, a few of us sat down to discuss the impending collapse of the Perak government. It was suggested we speak to the Pakatan Rakyat leaders, which we did. Our recommendation was that they dissolve the Perak State Assembly and hold fresh state elections while Pakatan Rakyat still has the majority in the Assembly. Once Pakatan Rakyat has lost that majority it will be too late. No way will the Sultan agree to the request to dissolve the Perak State Assembly once you no longer command the majority in the Assembly.

But the Pakatan Rakyat leaders would not listen....

More.. (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/17783/84/)

[besitai2007]

After what happened in Perak, I am of the opinion that this would be difficult as PR don't have the money power to entice a cross over. It would be better to do it through the ballot box. Then, another 3 years is a long time ..and people tend to forget. My relatives still support MCA as they read the mainstream Chniese papers and believe what they read. They still believe that Anwar is incompetent. Sadly but true that the locals who read only the main stream papers have been fed all these propaganda from early years and cannot change their mindset.

[besitai2007]

As RPK there is nothing more that can be said..

[besitai2007]

Hopefully, that is going to be translated into the Mother of All Tsunamis come 9012..or earlier.

[besitai2007]

Read this at http://www.mysinchew.com/node/20982?tid=14. The Sin Chew Jit Poh article tells of how Hee justifies her becoming a froggie. Judge for yourself. Do you think her electorate will accept her when she returns? She probably need a police escort. Read that fresh market vendors are refusing to sell her family any produce. Shows the level of anger of people who used to respect her. But I do not condone such action.

[Han2]

This is part of RPK's latest posting on Perak "What More to Say?" in his blog www.malaysia-today.net which refers to the problem in Perak specifically....

What happened in Perak is good. I hope it will teach Pakatan Rakyat that it has to get its act together. The DAP lady’s crossover was triggered by something very trivial and goes to show she is more concerned about herself than about her party or about the rakyat. Everyone got a new Camry except her. So she sulked (merajuk) and left the party. If she had been given a new car she would not have sulked. A mere car brought the Perak government down.

If this is what brought the Perak government down, then it deserves to fall. The Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak used to be a non-Malay majority government. Now, it is an almost entirely Malay government. 27 of the 28 State Assemblymen are from Umno. Even if the three ‘independents’ join the new government it will be 29 Malays against only two Chinese. And there is not a single Indian State Assemblyman/woman in the new government.

What took 52 years of transformation has been destroyed in a mere days. Today, we are back to an entirely Malay government in Perak. And a DAP State Assemblywoman helped achieve this. A Chinese made the restoration of maruah Melayu (Malay dignity) possible. She should be given the next Ma'al Hijrah award and be accorded Bumiputera status.

[okang]

YF Hee, ????????????

[besitai2007]

The latest blame game among PR has Karpal Singh asking Anwar to resign as head of PR! Is it a media spin? DSAI is lamed for causing the mess as he had suggested leap-frogging BN people in the first place. Honestly, we don't need such rhetoric now. The BN will just love this kind of outburst. That veteran MP seems to be losing his touch on things. Lim Kit Siang does it at times too. But Kit was surprised at Karpal's outburst. IN any war you lose some and win some. Soldier on fellas and leave all that rubbish behind.

[jules]

There is no justification whatsoever on her actions.She could always resigns or join the PKR.All these for the want of a Camry.What a let down.Betrayed over a Japanese car ???
Effigies of hers were being burn by her constituents....http://mrsmith2.blogspot.com/
more like Cheng Meng instead of Chap Goh Mei for her and her family.
She is buried.

[pywong]

There is no justification whatsoever on her actions.She could always resigns or join the PKR.All these for the want of a Camry.What a let down.Betrayed over a Japanese car ???
Effigies of hers were being burn by her constituents....http://mrsmith2.blogspot.com/
more like Cheng Meng instead of Chap Goh Mei for her and her family.
She is buried.

Let's not get too carried away.

1. Hee has committed an act of treachery against her voters in Jelapang. She has to face them over the next 4 years. It won't be fun for her. I doubt she can last the 4 years. Most likely, after taking the money, she will quit and migrate. She can't stay in Perak anymore.

2. The next battle will be in the courts.

3. Maybe those UMNO clods will take up badminton to relieve their stress. ;D Then we could have a few by-elections shortly after.

4. The UMNO govt is illegal so that puts the civil servants in a fix. If the people refuse to pay tax to the UMNO govt but pay to the PR govt, that will trigger a flood of court cases that will jam up the courts. As they say, No taxation without representation. UMNO won't last till the end of this year.

Meanwhile, cool down, pull your money out from the bank and buy yourself a few gold coins. Whenever you feel your anger rising, suck on the coins. That should help. ;D ;D

Stop spending unnecessarily. There's going to be a huge financial tsunami coming. It's confirmed.

[fredkwan]

Stop spending unnecessarily. There's going to be a huge financial tsunami coming. It's confirmed.[/size]
[/quote]

PY, can you elaborate in details?

[pywong]

Stop spending unnecessarily. There's going to be a huge financial tsunami coming. It's confirmed.[/size]


PY, can you elaborate in details?[/quote]

Fredkwan,

Please check the Finance & Economics Board. There are several threads on Financial Crisis. I don't want to start explaining all over again.

Just read and make your own decision. Then if you decide you need protection, buy gold. Refer to the Gold and Precious Metals Board on Gold Primer.

If you don't agree, then you don't need to do anything. ;D